adidas Terrex Eastrail 2.0 Hiking Shoes Review: What You Need to Know (2024)
This post is sponsored by adidas. All content and opinions are my own.
Earlier in the year, I was offered the opportunity to check out some adidas products with a special focus on their outdoor gear and their Terrex line. While I was given the chance to try almost anything, I gravitated towards their hiking gear, especially alternative hiking footwear than heavy boots.
While I love my hiking boots and tend to choose them for almost every trail, sometimes you just don’t want to deal with the extra weight. I was looking for a lightweight solution that did not cost too much, and I found it in the adidas Terrex Eastrail 2.0 Hiking Shoes.
Here are my thoughts on the adidas Terrex Eastrail 2.0 Hiking Shoes and why they might be a good fit for your next adventure.
Comfort
I was searching for a shoe that did a number of different things for me when I was on the trail. Since my weak ankles have repeatedly been a problem (and my clumsiness too), I’ve normally chosen boots with solid ankle support. However, often with that support comes extra weight, and I was willing to compromise a bit in order to lighten the load.
Comfort was one of the main pros for me when it came to the Terrax Eastrail 2.0 hiking shoes. The footbed features plenty of padding, so you definitely do not feel the terrain you are stepping on through the soles of the shoes. I also found that they required almost no break-in time, meaning I could take on any moderate hike without rubbing or blisters out of the box.
Weight
What do we often look for first when choosing a new shoe for outdoor activities? We want to make sure that they are lightweight enough that they won’t cause additional fatigue when we’re on adventure. These more than delivered that for me. I was a little skeptical about how light they would be, but after taking them out of the box and wearing them around, I was thrilled to take them out.
Personally, while these shoes are marketed as hiking shoes, I could see them as a viable option for several types of outdoor activities. They are an excellent option for scrambling and flexible enough to fit in cracks and crevices for any mountain that does not require any technical foot placement.
Because they are so lightweight, you could also use them for trail running if you wanted. They might be a bit too bulky for me and since I was fortunate enough to try another pair from adidas, the Terrex Agravic Flow 2, which suited my needs better. But if you are searching for an all-around shoe that can be used for a variety of purposes, then the Eastrail 2.0’s can be a good option for that.
Traction
I love anything with a solid outsole, and I had heard good things about Traxion products. I wasn’t disappointed with how adidas designed the Eastrail 2.0’s sole. With deep lugs and solid traction, I didn’t find myself slipping and falling at all on the trail–whether it was an easy jaunt or a more challenging trail.
This was even more apparent when I hiked on slippery surfaces like slick rock or did some small river crossings, which these shoes were perfectly designed to do. Not only did they dry quickly, but the slicker terrain did not cause any issues with performance. In the future, I might consider the Terrex Free Hiker Gore-Tex 2.0 hiking shoe since it features a taller upper if I plan on being in the water more, but for my needs, the outsole traction was just right with the Eastrail 2.0.
Waterproofing
Speaking of water, another solid plus of this shoe was the material used for the uppers. I love adidas’ mission to reduce plastic (even their packaging features minimal plastic materials), and they have lived up to their standards by making the Eastrail 2.0 with 50% recycled content.
You might think that this could compromise the quality of the shoe and that it would let in more water when dealing with rain or rivers, but I found the opposite to be true. Despite being breathable, I never had to worry that my socks would be sopping wet and that would eventually lead to blisters. The Eastrail 2.0 took in a little water, but that’s to be expected when they are mostly submerged.
I also found that they dried after only fifteen minutes or so, which was much faster than many other hiking shoes I have tested. They also retained their support, which can be a tough thing to ask for after being drenched.
Stability and support
My biggest worry about switching over to hiking shoes is always that I’m going to suffer from lack of support. It’s a constant struggle between choosing how much weight I want to have on my feet over babying my ankles, and when I don’t have tall uppers, I’m always a little worried about heading out on rocky trails or ones with roots.
While you can never fully expect a shoe to provide the same support as a boot in that way, I was pleasantly surprised with the Eastrail 2.0’s midsole and laces, which did provide a lot more stability than I assumed it would. Part of it might be because it was designed with a EVA midsole, which in my experience really does a good job of holding your foot in place inside the shoe. Another might be how the uppers strike a balance between being flexible enough to beans during a scramble, but solid enough to retain shape on rocky terrain.
While backpacking and carrying extra weight, I probably will stick to my boots for the extra ankle support. For day hikes and scrambles that require something lighter, I’m definitely turning to the Eastrail 2.0.
Conclusion
These shoes fully made me reconsider my choice of footwear while on the trail–and off it too. Honestly, these hiking shoes are light enough that you can wear them on walks around the neighborhood as well as navigating sliding scree.
If you need a hiking shoe that works in pretty much any outdoor setting, then I highly recommend the Eastrail 2.0. You might want something a bit more specialized for intense activities, but for those just getting into the outdoors or who want an alternative to heavier boots, these shoes fit the bill perfectly.
Have any questions about the adidas Eastrail 2.0? Let me know in the comments!
